MONTREAL -- The National Film Board of Canada (NFB) has named Julie Roy their new director general, creation and innovation; she will take up her duties as of May 20, 2020. The announcement was made by government film commissioner and NFB chairperson, Claude Joli-Coeur. A celebrated professional whose recognition extends beyond Canada, Roy has 25 years of experience in film both as an executive producer and producer of the French Animation Studio with more than 50 productions to her credit.

As a producer, Roy has always encouraged experimentation and risk-taking while emphasizing the importance of social relevance. Her chief mandate will be to strengthen the NFB’s creative leadership, establishing an integrated programming vision to serve as a springboard for producers and executive producers to launch their documentary, animation, and interactive projects. Retaining the unique character of each studio and complementing the creativity of Canadian artists, along with principles of inclusion and diversity, gender parity, and representation of Indigenous people, will continue to be an integral part of this programming vision.

“Creating at the NFB should be a unique experience—unlike any other in the industry,” remarked Roy. “To create a project here is to work with a spirit of collaboration, in an environment where the range of talent and artistic approaches motivates us to always do better. For creators, the NFB experience brings the artistic and intellectual stimulation that comes with the institution, enriched by the diverse experiences that our employees have to offer. To create at the NFB is to benefit from a platform like no other for having one’s voice heard by Canadians.”

“Julie has the leadership and determination to inspire a vision of programming that encourages team synergy and the production of unique and innovative projects,” added Joli-Coeur. “She is a woman of action and conviction. Julie takes the interests of all her teams and collaborators to heart, including the creators with whom she’s developed such honest and open working relationships over time. In addition, her years in marketing throughout the early 2000s have contributed to her keen audience awareness.”

Roy is well-known in the production and programming worlds, regularly serving as a speaker, panelist, and programmer for events and festivals in Canada and around the world. She has collaborated with many publications, with recent contributions including pieces on the NFB and women filmmakers. She was vice president of Femmes du cinéma, de la télévision et des médias numériques (FCTMN) from 2012 to 2014 and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She holds a master’s degree in film studies from Université de Montréal, a certificate in marketing from HEC Montréal and a bachelor’s degree in education from the Université du Québec à Montréal.

Her best-known productions include: Here and the Great Elsewhere by Michèle Lemieux (2012); Carface by Claude Cloutier (2015); and The Head Vanishes by Franck Dion (Annecy Cristal Award for a short film in 2016). Roy was also executive producer of Theodor Ushev’s Oscar nominated short, Blind Vaysha. Her expertise ranges from animated documentary, Quiet Zone by Karl Lemieux and David Bryant, and the upcoming web series, Caresses Magiques by Lori Malépart-Traversy (2021), to the interactive project, Burquette by Francis Desharnais (2014) and the technical and formal experimentation of Matthew Rankin’s The Tesla World Light and Patrick Bouchard’s The Subject.

Marc Bertrand will act as interim executive producer for the French Animation Studio when Roy begins her new role.